Arlis Dale Ratliff, 77, passed away Saturday, February 16, 2002, at 1:05 A.M. in the Midland Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle with emphysema and diabetes. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Big Spring at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 19, with Rev Jerry Don Cheshire, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Higgins, Rev. Claude McKiddy, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Garden City, and Rev. Al Stiefer, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Garden City officiating. Interment will follow at the Garden City Cemetery. He was born on September 12, 1924, in Lamesa, Texas, and married Barbara Lu Currie on April 1, 1955, in Garden City, Texas. He grew up in Garden City and has been a life-long rancher. He served in the U.S. Army. He also held the office of Glasscock County Commissioner for four years. He and his wife served as Glasscock County Chairmen for the Howard-Glasscock Centennial. He was honored at the Old Settler?s Reunion as Pioneer of the Year He was an avid sports fan, loved playing dominoes, and in his early years, was an outstanding roper; he held the highest average in the Glasscock County Roping Club for two years. He was big-hearted, kind, and loved people; he never met a stranger. His pride and joy was his family, his wife of 46 years, Barbara Lu, his daughter, Laura Maud Huitt, and his grandson, Luke Huitt. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Garden City where he served as officer in almost every church office, and took great pride in the maintenance of the church yard, a gift he gave to the church for over 15 years. He was also a member of the Men?s Bible Class at the First United Methodist Church in Big Spring where he attended services for nine years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam Ratliff and Ruthie Lawler Ratliff: his brother, George Ratliff; his sister, Ruby Nelle Barfield and her husband, Jiggs Barfield; and two nieces, Barbara Nelle Fonville, and Diana Lu Currie Nichols. His survivors include his wife, Barbara Lu, his daughter, Laura Maud Huitt, and grandson, Luke Huitt, all of Garden City. Pallbearers are John Sam Barfield, Garden City, Bill Currie, Big Spring, Jerry Jon Currie, Big Spring , Freddy Chaney, Greenwood, Jose Lopez, Garden City, Howard Engle, Adrian, Juan de Luna, Garden City, and Michael Hoch, Garden City. Honorary pallbearers are Lester Ratliff, Big Lake; Derwood Ratliff, Midland; Jay Cunningham, Houston; Dale Cunningham, California; Kent Morgan, Big Spring; John Currie, Big Spring; Jerry Currie, Big Spring; Duane Cox, Midland, Choc Harris, St. Lawrence, Harry Love Calverley, Lubbock, James Currie, Garden City, Glenn Riley, Midland and all of the men of the First United Methodist Church of Garden City. The family especially appreciated the loving care and concern that was given to Arlis during his illness by Rosie Roberts, Hobbs, New Mexico; John Sam and Mary Barfield, Garden City; Bill Currie, Big Spring; Janet and Harry Middleton, Big Spring; Wilma Dean Webb, Midland; Derwood Ratliff, Midland, and Elia Gomez, Midland. Also, a special thanks to Mildred Harris, Billy Nunley, and Dorothy Webster, his telephone and television buddies. We would also like to thank the physicians who took wonderful care of Arlis: Dr. John McKenna, Dr. N. M. Patel, Dr. Bruce Cox. And, the superior nursing staff on the 4th floor of Midland Memorial Hospital and Best Home Health Care of Big Spring. The family will receive friends at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home on Monday, February 18, 2002, from 7:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Services are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.,
